Life in the Turn Lane

Wow, June 13th, eh? And not really much of a post. Still, I refuse to abandon this blog-project. Even though I find it hard to motivate myself to post sometimes, actually writing something continues to be one of the most rewarding things I do these days.

For those of you who have used this blog to keep tabs on me, there have been a great deal of changes since my last few posts. For starters, I moved. Still living with Heidi and the Little Baby (who turns four next month) and still in Hyde Park. I am currently living in what I realized is my tenth Hyde Park apartment, though the first time for this street. I've had three apartments on Ellis, three on Woodlawn and scattered pads elsewhere. The new place is incredibly comfortable and homey, much moreso than the last place, which honestly was just too much space for us. Plus the new location has cut ten minutes off my commute, which is awesome.

On the subject of work, things continue to be going well. I was dissatisfied with my annual evaluation (and though the resultant 1.25% pay increase was appreciated, the 3% + bonus that was missed out upon did instill some bitterness) and have since decided to involve myself more with the goings on and hope to prove myself indispensable. So far, the major accomplishment has been to establish myself as the in-house master of ceremonies of choice: I played host to the first annual emloyee-only "American Idol"-style singing competition and have now been pegged as the caller for our upcoming $25,000 Bingo Blowout promotion. And I can honestly say, after three and a half years of working there, my boss finally knows who I am. (To be totally fair, he is actually the boss of my bosses, of whom I have ... 16? 17? It's hard to keep track.)

The girls are in California for the next two weeks, visiting Heidi's mom. They left yesterday morning and I have spent the time since both enjoying and being saddened by the quiet. I woke up this morning around 7:00 and waited for someone to ask me to get out of bed, turn on a movie, make her some toast, etc. And it kept not happening. I think I reset my alarm clock three times out of pure confusion over when it was actually necessary to get out of bed. So the next few weeks will be a little different.

I am actually a little disconcerted that I've sat at the computer this long to write this ... I keep looking at the clock and thinking it's time to round up Daisy for the bath, but I guess for the next few weeks I'm not responsible for keeping anyone clean but myself. (I'll let you know how that goes.)

I am off to watch Sansho The Bailiff, recently fervently recommended to me by the one true John Luzar. Before I go, let me share my delicious recipe for the Bloody Mary I concocted this evening (hereafter to be known as "The Bloody Baba".)

Combine in a cocktail shaker full of ice
- 3/4 cup tomato juice
- 2 0z vodka
- 2 0z delicious, delicious beer (I recommend Anchor Steam)
- 1 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon olive juice
- as much black peper and salt as you feel necessary
- as many dashes of Tabasco as you feel you can handle

Shake well and garnish with the following: 1 olive, 1 cocktail onion, 1 gherkin, 1 piece of salami, and 1 stick of string cheese. Back with remainder of beer.

Sláinte Mhaith!